The Ministry of Defence has said it does not use services from Meta to build artificial intelligence systems for UK national security purposes.
In a written parliamentary answer published on 5 February, Defence Minister Luke Pollard responded to Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan, who asked what safeguards had been considered in relation to Meta support for building AI systems for national security.
Pollard stated: “The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not use services from Meta to build Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems for United Kingdom (UK) national security purposes.” He added that wider policy on the governance and oversight of relationships with commercial AI developers sits with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Pollard said the MoD’s role is focused on ensuring any AI technologies adopted or developed align with the Defence AI Strategy, the department’s ethical principles, and government security classification requirements. He said these measures include “robust technical; security and assurance measures appropriate to the sensitivity of MOD systems.”
Pollard added that the MoD continues to work with DSIT, the National Cyber Security Centre and other government partners to ensure defence use of AI remains safe and compliant with national policy.
Well that’s interesting, it is a part response to the question I posed on the other thread regarding the ‘Uk digital targeting web’. Mind you there are many other companies beyond Meta with similar, perhaps greater implications. I wonder why Meta was singled out in this question.